MTLNOVEL Chapter 59
The Day I Met Ginevra Golbro
Not long after, news spread of the formal contract signing between the Ambrose and Golbro merchant groups.
‘What a relief.’
I had been secretly worried, but after hearing the details from Ginevra, I sighed in relief.
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure if introducing them to each other was the right decision.
The Iron-Blooded Empress, Oriana, who once stood at the pinnacle of power but had now relinquished everything to the Crown Prince and stepped down.
And Ginevra Golbro, who had been steadily receiving heir education under her outstanding father while building her own career.
Their meeting was an event that never occurred in the original story.
But, surprisingly enough…
The two transcended their statuses and backgrounds, bonding over a shared love for comic books.
Soon, Ginevra would be publishing a Ghost Duke Newsletter for fellow comic book enthusiasts, and the Empress had secretly agreed to be its guarantor…
Yeah, that’s something I’ll keep to myself.
‘In any case, this could be a great opportunity for Ginevra as well.’
She had little to no social connections.
I had only recently learned that her mother had passed away early on, which explained a lot.
Even if she had a debutante ball, not having a noblewoman to support her was a significant disadvantage.
But if she could establish a connection with the Empress and step into the Empire’s social scene?
‘The already powerful Golbro merchant group could become even stronger.’
Knock, knock.
As I was lost in thought, Bonita’s voice reached my ears.
“My lady, the Marchioness of Ambrose is waiting for you.”
“Oh, is it already that time?”
Hearing the awaited news, I got up and headed outside.
Upon entering the reception room, I was greeted by a more splendidly dressed Marchioness of Ambrose than usual.
Upon closer inspection, even her complexion looked brighter—things must have gone even better with the Golbro group than expected.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
As Bonita set the table, the Marchioness spoke to me in a composed voice.
“To be honest, I never truly thought it would be possible.”
Holding her teacup elegantly, she took a sip of the warm tea before continuing.
“…With this, Ambrose owes you a great debt.”
A debt, huh?
Hearing the words I had been waiting for, I grinned widely.
“Oh no, we were able to resolve our distribution issues thanks to Ambrose as well. Please don’t say that, Marchioness.”
“No, if I let this slide, it would mean Ambrose is taking on a one-sided debt.”
While using Ambrose’s distribution network was necessary for us, it wasn’t like we were using it for free—we were paying proper fees for the service.
However, if the Ambrose family hadn’t been introduced to Ginevra, they wouldn’t have been able to secure the future of their prized distribution business.
So the Marchioness seemed to think that what she had offered me wasn’t enough to balance out what she had received.
Honestly, she wasn’t entirely wrong.
‘Which is why I plan to keep this debt open.’
And why?
I recalled the rent contract buried in a corner of the Grand Duke’s office.
The ever-growing lodging fees accumulating as we spoke made my heart race with anxiety.
And really—this was no joke—I realized it once again when I explained this deal to That Lunatic.
What exactly?
That if I didn’t work my ass off even harder, I would be shackled in debt forever and never escape from Blaire Grand Duke’s estate.
‘If I’m being honest….’
It wasn’t that I hated the Grand Duke.
But at this rate, I’d be stuck living in his house forever—owned by an exploitative employer (who just so happened to be ridiculously handsome, dangerously charming, and provided excellent benefits).
And if he were to marry someone one day… what would happen to me?
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a vivid simulation played out in my head.
“Dear, who exactly is this woman living in our estate?”
“You could call her a leech who racked up an enormous debt and refuses to pay it off. Sigh.”
“Just kick her out already!”
“No. I can’t let her leave until she pays back every penny.”
“What?! That sly fox must be clinging to you on purpose!”
…Would I end up living under the scrutiny of the future Grand Duchess?
Ugh, just imagining that kind of future was unbearable. But why did my chest feel so tight thinking about a Grand Duchess—someone who didn’t even exist yet?
Hiding my complicated emotions, I sipped my tea and took a deep breath.
‘A beautiful power couple will always make ordinary people feel robbed.’
That must be it. But still…
‘The Grand Duke will surely marry someone with a distinguished title, a noble lineage, and unmatched beauty, right?’
At that moment, my resolve hardened.
I had to secure my independence before marriage talks started surrounding him.
“Heh.”
“Oh…!”
Lost in my thoughts while staring blankly at my tea, I snapped back to reality when I heard soft laughter.
“S-Sorry! I was just deep in thought….”
“No, it’s fine. I thought you were just shrewd with numbers, but seeing your expressions change so often reminds me of my son James when he was young.”
Luckily, she didn’t seem too bothered by my rudeness and smiled gently.
“James—”
“James Pavron, the Baron.”
Ah, right.
I had momentarily forgotten his name, but as soon as I recalled it, I nodded. The Marchioness let out a quiet chuckle.
“I may be distant with him now, but James was the son I cherished most.”
Though she was looking at me, her gaze seemed to drift somewhere far away.
She then began recounting the long-standing conflict between her and Baron Pavron.
That he had been the most promising of her children, so it was natural for her to have expectations.
That despite always being obedient, he had been absolutely unyielding when it came to his marriage.
“Hm…”
The deeper she got into her story, the harder it became for me to hide my heavy expression.
Because I knew not only their past—but also what lay ahead.
‘Honestly, I didn’t recognize the name Pavron at first.’
The changes caused by my survival had led to deviations from the original story, and I hadn’t written everything down the moment I transmigrated. Naturally, side stories not directly tied to the protagonist had faded from my memory.
But just because they weren’t connected to the heroine, Lemeia, didn’t mean time had stopped for them.
‘Everyone has their own story that continues to unfold….’
Even just thinking about the events I had been involved in proved that.
The kidnapping, the issues in the Magic Tower, and the tragedy that would soon befall the Ambrose family.
The Marchioness had no idea—couldn’t possibly imagine—that her beloved son and his wife would soon fall into ruin and lose their lives due to financial hardship.
And that she, upon hearing the belated news, would suffer immeasurable grief.
In the original story, the overpowered Lemeia had helped the Marchioness heal through a mind therapist, eventually securing full access to Ambrose’s distribution network.
Or something like that. Well, in any case…
‘But nothing has happened yet.’
Baron Pavron was still alive.
Which meant the Marchioness had yet to lose her son.
So perhaps she wouldn’t have to go through all that suffering in the first place.
If there was a chance to change things, wasn’t it worth a try?
‘But… should I even intervene?’
I had already tried fixing Salt’s famine problem and nearly made things worse.
Maybe some things were meant to happen.
But then again, the Marchioness reconnecting with Pavron and forming ties with the Blaile Grand Duke’s household weren’t part of the original either…
‘Hmmm….’
As the Marchioness’s voice grew distant, I found myself sinking deeper into thought.